So we're moving to California
As revealed in the latest episode of my husband's webseries, we are moving from Utica, NY to Palo Alto, CA.
What brought about this big change? Well it didn't quite happen the way it does in the video.
For the past year or two, we've felt like a change was coming. We weren't sure if it was going to be good or bad or when it would come, or what it would entail, but we knew that soon, our lives were going to change. The stronger that feeling grew, the more determined we became to take as much charge over whatever the change might be as possible. We didn't want to just let life happen to us, we wanted to turn it into an opportunity, an adventure.
Ever since we started feeling that way, a lot of things have happened--big and small--that we believe helped guide us to this point. First was T's diabetes. Even though he was diagnosed four years ago (in March), the more we've dealt with it and started using devices like the pump and the sensor, the more Chriss has become interested in medical devices from a development standpoint. In fact, before T started using the pump, Chriss had written a program that could be used on a computer or a palm pilot that would help us calculate his insulin doses. It made it so much easier to find someone willing to babysit for us when they didn't have to worry about all those equations.
Next was Chriss' decision to pursue his dream of filmmaking. That actually started three years ago, but in the last two years, he's really come a long way. He's been able to network with some pretty cool people and has had some amazing opportunities already. But the more he's grown, the more he's wanted to push beyond what our area has to offer.
Then we had our switch to home school. I can't tell you how many times in the last 2 1/2 months that we've been getting the house ready to list and looking over the logistics of a cross-country move, that I've been so grateful I don't have to deal with public school through all of this. Yeah, there have been times when it's been really tough to stay on top of school and everything else, but the beauty of home school is how flexible it is.
As these things started happening, we came to the realization that the only thing tying us to the Utica area was Chriss' job. And he was growing tired of what he was doing. He wanted a change. So early last year, he started applying to other companies. He interviewed with a few places in the area, but none of them were right for us. Then, around May or June, someone who was visiting our church struck up a conversation with Chriss. Turned out, the guy was from California and worked for Bosch Medical (yes, the same Bosch that makes the appliances, power tools, and auto supplies). He was here on business and announced that Bosch in Utica was hiring. They talked quite a bit about it then and the few other times the guy came back on business. But it wasn't until August that Chriss really decided to apply.
He went in for an interview, followed by two more. On the third interview, he was told that they didn't want to hire him in Utica. They wanted him in Palo Alto. Our gut reaction was No Way! Neither of us had any desire whatsoever to live in CA. But Chriss said he'd at least consider it when he saw the salary range they were thinking of. We spent several weeks researching and thinking and praying about it. Finally, we went back and said we'd consider it, but they'd have to make us an offer we couldn't refuse. We also needed a few months to get our house ready to sell (and hopefully sold) before we moved because we couldn't afford two mortgages and no way were we willing for Chriss to be in CA while I'm stuck here trying to home school and sell the house by myself.
After several more weeks of back and forth, they finally flew Chriss out to Palo Alto for a final interview and a chance to see the area. This was the last week of October. He liked what he saw out there as well as the type of work they'd be having him do--they make medical devices and they were really impressed by the software he'd written for T. And a friend of his from college who now lives out there hooked him up with a realtor who helped us see that there are some pretty nice houses in good areas within a realistic price range for us. Plus, the offer was really sweet. The salary is pretty good and the relocation package is amazing. Basically, they cover a week-long house hunting trip for the whole family, they pay to ship both our cars out there, they pay for movers to come and pack up and move our stuff, they pay for our relocation (plane tickets and stuff), give us 2 months of temporary housing once we get out there, and 90 days of free storage. The only thing we have to do is cover the relocation of the cats ourselves. Also, they were willing to give us time to get the house sold.
Chriss came home from the trip, we spent a week doing yet more research, praying and talking and in the end, it just felt right. So he accepted the job and started working in their Utica offices the week of Thanksgiving.
Ever since then, it's been a whirlwind of work. We had contractors out for some repairs, we painted the entire house, we decluttered like crazy, we staged (with help from our awesome realtor) and we finally finished and listed on Wednesday. And that would be why I've been so absent these past few months. It's been non-stop and I'm so relieved to finally have a break from it all before the next round of craziness begins because we have to be out there permanently by April 1, which means we'll be moving in mid-end of March. Not much longer now.
We're pretty excited. It's going to be quite an adventure and there are going to be so many opoortunities for us. Chriss will have far more career opportunities than he does here, there'll be a lot more film opportunities, and I like the home school options out there better than our here (I can put T in K12 full time for free out there. Here, I can only afford to give him independent study history and science through K12), and I'll be so much closer to my family. My parents live in WA--so we'll be in the same time zone for the first time in my married life--and my extended family lives in UT (with a few in AZ). Plus, how can I not be excited about things like NO MORE SNOW, sunshine almost everyday, real mountains (which I've sorely missed), and the ocean? I mean, I never thought I'd ever be able to spend my Decemeber anniversary at the beach, but next year I can!
And so there you have it. Big changes ahead for my family but we're ready so bring it!
What brought about this big change? Well it didn't quite happen the way it does in the video.
For the past year or two, we've felt like a change was coming. We weren't sure if it was going to be good or bad or when it would come, or what it would entail, but we knew that soon, our lives were going to change. The stronger that feeling grew, the more determined we became to take as much charge over whatever the change might be as possible. We didn't want to just let life happen to us, we wanted to turn it into an opportunity, an adventure.
Ever since we started feeling that way, a lot of things have happened--big and small--that we believe helped guide us to this point. First was T's diabetes. Even though he was diagnosed four years ago (in March), the more we've dealt with it and started using devices like the pump and the sensor, the more Chriss has become interested in medical devices from a development standpoint. In fact, before T started using the pump, Chriss had written a program that could be used on a computer or a palm pilot that would help us calculate his insulin doses. It made it so much easier to find someone willing to babysit for us when they didn't have to worry about all those equations.
Next was Chriss' decision to pursue his dream of filmmaking. That actually started three years ago, but in the last two years, he's really come a long way. He's been able to network with some pretty cool people and has had some amazing opportunities already. But the more he's grown, the more he's wanted to push beyond what our area has to offer.
Then we had our switch to home school. I can't tell you how many times in the last 2 1/2 months that we've been getting the house ready to list and looking over the logistics of a cross-country move, that I've been so grateful I don't have to deal with public school through all of this. Yeah, there have been times when it's been really tough to stay on top of school and everything else, but the beauty of home school is how flexible it is.
As these things started happening, we came to the realization that the only thing tying us to the Utica area was Chriss' job. And he was growing tired of what he was doing. He wanted a change. So early last year, he started applying to other companies. He interviewed with a few places in the area, but none of them were right for us. Then, around May or June, someone who was visiting our church struck up a conversation with Chriss. Turned out, the guy was from California and worked for Bosch Medical (yes, the same Bosch that makes the appliances, power tools, and auto supplies). He was here on business and announced that Bosch in Utica was hiring. They talked quite a bit about it then and the few other times the guy came back on business. But it wasn't until August that Chriss really decided to apply.
He went in for an interview, followed by two more. On the third interview, he was told that they didn't want to hire him in Utica. They wanted him in Palo Alto. Our gut reaction was No Way! Neither of us had any desire whatsoever to live in CA. But Chriss said he'd at least consider it when he saw the salary range they were thinking of. We spent several weeks researching and thinking and praying about it. Finally, we went back and said we'd consider it, but they'd have to make us an offer we couldn't refuse. We also needed a few months to get our house ready to sell (and hopefully sold) before we moved because we couldn't afford two mortgages and no way were we willing for Chriss to be in CA while I'm stuck here trying to home school and sell the house by myself.
After several more weeks of back and forth, they finally flew Chriss out to Palo Alto for a final interview and a chance to see the area. This was the last week of October. He liked what he saw out there as well as the type of work they'd be having him do--they make medical devices and they were really impressed by the software he'd written for T. And a friend of his from college who now lives out there hooked him up with a realtor who helped us see that there are some pretty nice houses in good areas within a realistic price range for us. Plus, the offer was really sweet. The salary is pretty good and the relocation package is amazing. Basically, they cover a week-long house hunting trip for the whole family, they pay to ship both our cars out there, they pay for movers to come and pack up and move our stuff, they pay for our relocation (plane tickets and stuff), give us 2 months of temporary housing once we get out there, and 90 days of free storage. The only thing we have to do is cover the relocation of the cats ourselves. Also, they were willing to give us time to get the house sold.
Chriss came home from the trip, we spent a week doing yet more research, praying and talking and in the end, it just felt right. So he accepted the job and started working in their Utica offices the week of Thanksgiving.
Ever since then, it's been a whirlwind of work. We had contractors out for some repairs, we painted the entire house, we decluttered like crazy, we staged (with help from our awesome realtor) and we finally finished and listed on Wednesday. And that would be why I've been so absent these past few months. It's been non-stop and I'm so relieved to finally have a break from it all before the next round of craziness begins because we have to be out there permanently by April 1, which means we'll be moving in mid-end of March. Not much longer now.
We're pretty excited. It's going to be quite an adventure and there are going to be so many opoortunities for us. Chriss will have far more career opportunities than he does here, there'll be a lot more film opportunities, and I like the home school options out there better than our here (I can put T in K12 full time for free out there. Here, I can only afford to give him independent study history and science through K12), and I'll be so much closer to my family. My parents live in WA--so we'll be in the same time zone for the first time in my married life--and my extended family lives in UT (with a few in AZ). Plus, how can I not be excited about things like NO MORE SNOW, sunshine almost everyday, real mountains (which I've sorely missed), and the ocean? I mean, I never thought I'd ever be able to spend my Decemeber anniversary at the beach, but next year I can!
And so there you have it. Big changes ahead for my family but we're ready so bring it!